Savko said she came from Pennsylvania. During extreme cold weather there, hospital emergency rooms would get a lot of frostbite and frost nip patients. Frost nip is when someone’s hands get very cold and need to be put under warm water to thaw, she said.

“Unfortunately you do see people die in this cold weather,” Savko said. “That usually happens when they are outdoors too long, improperly dressed and especially when people are drinking and don’t realize how cold they are getting.”

“People should stay indoors as much as possible,” Savko said. “If you must go out, you should wear layers of clothing, hats and gloves.”

People who stay indoors and have wood-burning fireplaces or stoves need to make sure there is ventilation in the house to avoid carbon dioxide poisoning, Savko said.

Pet owners also need to take precautions. Pets are also at risk for frostbite and hypothermia during extreme cold weather and should be kept indoors, according to the Humane Society.

Colleen Roberts, public information office for New Bern, said because no precipitation was expected with the freezing temperatures, the city was just making sure firefighters and police stayed protected against the cold.

Stanley Kite, Craven County emergency director, said the county sent out notices to emergency response personnel to take extra precautions against the cold and making sure pumps on fire trucks do not freeze overnight.

No shelters would be opened unless there are significant power outages, Kite said.

Religious Community Services reported people were coming in Monday afternoon seeking shelter.

Juliet Rogers, director of shelter services, said RCS has a policy when it is freezing to allow an unlimited number of people in the 20-bed shelter for one night. Cots are put up to help more people get out of the cold, she said.

If it drops below freezing the following night, those homeless people can return for another night, Rogers said.

“We have some hard-core homeless people sleeping in tents, but when it gets this cold they will come in,” she said.

RCS tries to reach out to the homeless to get them to come to the shelter during freezing weather, Rogers said.

The RCS shelter serves Craven, Jones and Pamlico counties.

“It’s sad the lack of beds we have for people,” Rogers said. “We will have a lot coming in.”

Because of the cold weather, schools in Craven, Pamlico and Jones counties were scheduled to operate on a two-hour delay Tuesday for all staff and students.

Wanda Dawson, superintendent of Pamlico Schools, said school systems from Beaufort to Jones counties were scheduled to open two hours later Tuesday.

“With kids on the side of the road waiting on buses — it is cold out there,” she said. “We have to protect them.”

Local auto parts stores had a busy day Monday as people tried to get their vehicles winterized before the approaching freeze.

Sue Downs, manager of O’Reilly Auto Parts, said business was steady.

“A lot of people are getting antifreeze and getting their batteries tested,” Downs said. “It’s about par for the course. Whenever it gets cold, people come in for antifreeze. It’s been busy Tuesday. It’s a good, productive day.”

Eddie Fitzgerald can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at eddie.fitzgerald@newbernsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @staffwriter3.